Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-29
CHAPTER XIII.

ingly hot, and our travellers sat in the shade
of the cart positively gasping. During the
afternoon there had been little breeze, but
this had now died away, and the sitting air
felt as thick as though they were breathing
cream. Even the two Beers seemed to feel
the heat, for they were both outstretched on
the grass few PAGES to the left, to all APP
pearances fast asleep. AS for the horses, they
were thoroughly done up-too much SO to
eat-and hobbled along as well as their knee
halters would allow, daintily picking a
mouthful here and a mouthful there. The
only person who did not seem to mind was
the Zulu Mouti, who sat Oh an antheap near
the horses, in the full glare Of the setting sun
and comfortably droned out u little song of
his own invention, for Zulus are us great for
improvising as the Italians.
"John," said Jess. at last, "where do you
suppose we are going to camp tonight? II
we follow the main road we shall reach STAN
derton in an hour"
"I don't suppose that they will 60 near
Standerton," lie said. II suppose that we
shall cross the Vaal by another drift and
have to 'veldt,' it."
Just then the two Beers woke up and began
to talk earnestly together, as though they
were debating something hotly.
Slowly the huge red ball of the sun sank to-
ward the horizon, sleeping the earth and sky in
blood. About hundred yards from where
they sat tie little bride path that branched
from tho main road crossed the crest Of ono
OF the great land waves that rolled away In
every direction toward the for horizon. John
watched the sun sinking behind it till some
thing called away his attention for a minute.
When he looked up again there was figure
on horseback, standing quite still. upon the
crest Of the ridge in the full glow Of the now
disappearing sun. 1t was Frank Muller.
John recognized him in moment. His horse
was standing sideways, so that even at that
distance every line of his features, even the
trigger guard Of the rife that rested on his
knee, showed distinctly against the back
ground of smoky red. Nor was that all.
Both he and his horse had the appearance Of
being absolutely on fire. Tho effect produced
wns so weird and extraordinary that John
called his companions attention to it. She
looked and shuddered involuntarily.
ale looks like q devil in hell" she said;
atbe fire seems to be running all up and down
him"
"Well," said John, she certainly is devil,
but am sorry to say that he has not yet
reached his destination. Here be comes, like
q whirlwind."
In another twenty seconds Muller had
reined the great black horse on to his
launches alongside Of them, and was smiling
sweetly and taking or his hat.
"You see l have managed to keep my
word" he said. NJ can tell you that had
great difficulty in doing so; indeed, l was
nearly obliged to give tho thing up at the
last moment However, here l am"
"Where are we to outspan tonight" asked
jess. "At Standerton!'
"No," he said; II am afraid that is more
than can manage for you, unless you can
PERSUADE the English officer there TO surren.
der. What have arranged is, that we should
cross the Vaal at drift l know about two
hours Twelve miles, from here, and outspan
at furm on the other side Do not trouble,
I assure you you shall both sleep well to-
night" and he smiled somewhat terrifying
smile, jess thought.
"But how about this drift, Mr.. Muller7"
said John. "Is it safe2 I should have
thought that the Vaal would have been in
fool after all the rain that we have had"
THE drift is perfectly safe, Capt Mel.
crossed it myself about two hours ago.
know You have had bad opinion of me, but
l suppose YOU do not think that I should
guide you to al unsafe drift!" and with an
other bow he rode OH to speak to the two
Beers, saying, as he went, "Will you tell the
Kaffir to put the horses in?
With shrug of his shoulders John rose and
x,,,,,@ off to,y,r1 Nouti 70 haln him to f1riya
up the four grays, who were now standing
Imply together. biting at the flies, that, be-
fore storm, sting more sharply than ut any
other time. The two horses belonging to the
escort were SOME fifty PAGES to the left. 1t
was as though they appreciated the position
of affairs, and declined to mix with the ami
mails of the discredited Englishman.
The two Beers rose as Muller came and
walked off toward their horses, Muller
slowly following them. As they came the
horses hobbled away another thirty yards or
so, and then lifted up their heads, and, as
consequence, their fore legs, to which the
heads were tied, and stood looking defiantly
at their captors, for all the world as though
they were trying to make up their minds
whether or not to shake hands with them
Frank Muller was alongside the two men
now, and they were alongside the horses.
"Listen!" he said, sternly.
The men looked up.
$50 on loosening the reims, and listen"
They obeyed, and began to slowly tumble
at tho knee halters.
"You understand what our orders are. Re-
peat them-yOu~
The man with the tooth, who was addressed,
still handling the rein, began as follows: ITO
take the two prisoners to the Vaal, to force
them into the water where there is no drift,
at night, so that they drown; if they do not
drown, to shoot them"
"Those are the ORDERS" said the Wider
beeste, grinninG.
"You understand them"
awe understand, meinheer; but, forgive
U.s. the matter is big one. You gave the
orders-we wish to see the authority"
"Yah, yah," said the other, "show us the
authority. These are two harmless people
enough. Show us the authority for killing
them. People must not be killed so. even if
they ore English folk, without proper au-
thority, especially when one is pretty girl
who would do for n mans wife"
Frank Muller set his teeth. "Nice fellows
you are to have under one." he said II am
your officer; what other authority do you
want! But thought of this. See here!"
and he drew paper from his pocket. "Here,
you-read it! Careful now-do not let them
see from the wagon"
TE> big, flabby faced man took the paper
and, still bending down over the horses
knees, read aloud:
"''he two DriSOners and their servant ian
Englishman, an English girl and Zulu
Kattir) to be executed in pursuance of our de-
cree as your commanding officer shall order,
Is enemies OF the republic. For so doing this
shall be your warrant"
"You see the signature" said Muller, "and
you do not dispute its'
"Yah, we see it, and we do not dispute it."
"Good. Give me back the warrant"
The man with the tooth was about to do so,
when his companion interposed.
NO" he said, "the warrant must remain
with us. I do not like the job. If it we're
only the man and the Kaffir now-but the
girl, the girl! If we give you back the war
rant, what shall we have to show for the
deed of blood! The warrant must remain
with US.
"Yah, yah; he is right" said the Unicorn;
@the warrant must remain with u.s. Put it i'll
your pocket, JAM"
"Curse You, give it to mel" said Muller, be-
tween his teeth.
"No, Frank Muller, no." answered the Viii
derbeestc, patting his pocket, while the two
or three square inches Of skin round his nose